The 10 best Christmas tech gifts for kids

It's that time of year, people. That time of year when children are thrown into a frenzy about the latest tech toys which are being rolled out, and parents are thrown into a frenzy about what to get and where to get it all.

After all, how would you know if that toy tablet is a better buy for your youngster than that LeapFrog plush toy? And even as junior yearns for that gizmo with the flashing lights and incessant music, is it really appropriate for their age? The choices are endless, the decisions fraught.

However, don't worry, we've got you covered. We have braved the store aisles and shopping sites for you, and whittled down the crop to the hottest tech toys of this year. Some were released over the summer and autumn, while others were rolled out specifically for the Xmas season.

Our pick of the top ten Christmas presents for youngsters runs the gamut, from toy dogs through kid-friendly tablets to pricey gaming consoles.

To make things even easier, we've included the recommended age range provided by the manufacturer where possible.

When it comes to the choice of wrapping paper, however, you’re on your own…

LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra (£89)

Ages 3 to 7

With its Wi-Fi capability, rechargeable battery, and bigger, higher-resolution screen, the LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra is a great toy tablet for playing and learning.

VTech InnoTab 3S (£70)

Ages 3 to 7

With its improved controls, increased storage and bundled rechargeable batteries (and newly reduced price), the VTech InnoTab 3S is an attractive tablet for those who bought the previous iterations. However, the addition of a microSD card slot (rather than the SD slot of old) is a head scratcher.

Zoomer (£60)

Ages 5 years and up

Zoomer, a robot dog from Spin Master, is a fun, sturdy and adorable toy. This voice-activated pup has a big personality that's expressed through a seemingly limitless litany of tricks and routines.

Nintendo 2DS (£110)

Ages 5 to 9 years

The Nintendo 2DS is an affordable, accessible, and feature-filled game system you can safely give to your kids. If you have a young child or a tight budget, it's your best gaming choice.

LeapFrog My Pal Scout and Violet (£18)

Ages 6 months to 3 years

Real dogs are all well and good, and they might teach kids about responsibility and so forth, but how about a loving dog that learns about their young owners while teaching them too? That's what LeapFrog is promising with its LeapFrog My Pal Scout and Violet interactive plush toys.

Furby Boom (£50)

Ages 6 years and up

Hasbro's new Furby Boom melds all the interactivity of previous Furby models with pet management and collecting games.

Jakks Pacific Spy Net Ultra Vision Goggles (£40)

Ages 8 to 15 years

The Jakks Pacific Spy Net Ultra Vision Goggles are reasonably priced, functional infrared goggles. They let you see in the dark, watch people with various fun video filters, and record anything you see with a built-in camera.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 (£235)

Ages 10 to 15 years

The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robotics kit is the newest, best, and most accessible way to teach your kids (or yourself) how to build and program robots. It’s not cheap, mind, but then this is a sophisticated toy…

Sony PlayStation 4 (£350)

Even more expensive is the Sony PlayStation 4, the first fully redesigned PlayStation in seven long years. The PS4 sports a fresh look, an all-new interface, some unique features, and a much more comfortable controller. And the PS4 is still cheaper than Microsoft’s new console, which is up next…